Rail joint



Jan. 13, 19 25.

P. W. PITTMAN RAIL JOINT Filed March 14, 1924 Patented Jan. 13, 19 25.

PLEASANT WILLIAM PITTMAN, OF LUFKIN, TEXAS.

RAIL JOINT.

Application filed March 14, 1924. Serial No. 699,258.

. Y '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L'Pnnasnntr W. PITT- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lufkin, in the county of Angelina and State of Texas, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Rail Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements inrail joints and has for its principal. object to provide a simple and efiicient means for uniting the abutting ends of a pair of adjacent rails in such a manner as to obviate the necessity of having to employ the usual fish-plates and connecting bolts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail joint of the above mentioned character, which is of such construction as to cause the abutting ends of a pair of adjacent rails to be inter-connected with each other in such a manner as to have the tread portions of each of the rails extending flush with each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail joint of the above mentioned character, wherein a pair of adjacent abutting rails will be securely held in inter-coir nected engagement and will provide a solid connection which will not accidentally become disassembled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail joint of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable, and further, well adapted for the purposes, for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of abutting rails with my rail joint associated therewith,

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the nume'als 1 and 2 designate a pair of adjacent rails the 'ends of which are adapted to abut in the manner as clearly shown in the drawing. The rail 1 and its tread portion or head 3 are cut-away as shown at l in the drawing to provide a notch and a portion between the notch and the outer end of the rail 1 provides what may be termed as a projection and is designated by the numeral 5 in the drawing.

The adjacent rail 2 has its tread or head portion 6 provided with an extension designated by the numeral T and this extension 7 is provided with the vertically extending opening 8 which is arranged or formed in the extension adjacent the end of the rail 2 in the manner as clearly shown in the draw ing. It is to be understood that the extension 7 is of such a length as to extend from the abutting portion of the adjacent rails to the wall of the notch 4 formed in the head of the rail 1 which is remote from the pro jection 5.

In assembling the adjacent rails whereby the same may be interlocked, the rail 2 is placed over the end of the rail 1 in such a manner as to have the opening 8 formed in the extension 7 fitting over the projection 5 and the outer end of the extension being received in the notch 4 in the manner as is shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. When the rails are arranged in this position, it will be readily apparent that the projection 5 of the rail 1 will be locked in the opening 8 of the head of the rail 2 so that relative movement of the adjacent rails in either a longitudinal or lateral direction is prevented. The heads of each of the rails will also extend flush with each other when the rails are interlocked so as to provide a smooth tread surface over which the wheels of a vehicle may pass.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that a rail joint has been provided wherein the abutting ends of a pair of adjacent rails may be interlocked in such a manner as to prevent any possibility of the same becoming disengaged and furthermore obviating the necessity of having to employ the usual fish-plates and con meeting the bolts therefor, as are now used for connecting'the abutting ends of a pair of adjacent rails. Furthermore, the simplicity of my device enables the same to be readily disassembled whenever necessary, and a device of this character may be manufactured ata very low cost.

While I have shown the preferred embodunent of my invention, 1t is to be understood that various changes in the size,

of which is cut out transversely of its head and its Web and at a point spaced from its end; to provide a; recess-1n the head and which; extends intotheiweb .and to vprovide an upstanding projection atthe end of-th'e headof the section, said projection having its outer: vertical edgel'yingv in thelsainevertical plane as that in which the end-edge surfaces of thefweb and the base flange. lie,

said projection having its top surface lying:

in the saine plane as that in which the tread surface; of the headof the rall section lies, the side surfaces ot'the projection extend- 1 s in para e pl ne en hs op Surface thereogt'a-nd said side; suni'ac es lyin ;n the same planes as those in which the'side surfaces of the Web lie, the other rail section being cutout transverselyoi'its base flange and of its Web along a line spaced below the head and providing a recess adapted to receive the .web andthe. base flange of the first mentioned rail section, the head of thesecond inentionedirail section being; provided; at an opening the, inner end wall of which, is aligned with ther inner edgefof, the. last mentioned eopening and the said 1 projection upon the first mentionedsection being, re-

ceived in the opening. of-the. second 1nen-' tioned rail section. Y

Inytestm ony whereof. I afilx my signature,

PLEASANT WILLIAM PITTMAN.

a point spaced from k its. end with; 

